lectin

[ lek-tin ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a group of proteins that bind to particular carbohydrates in the manner of an antibody and are commonly extracted from plants for use as an agglutinin, as in clumping red blood cells for blood typing.

lectin

/ ˈlɛktɪn /

noun

1. a type of protein possessing high affinity for a specific sugar; lectins are often highly toxic

Word History and Origins

Origin of lectin¹

1954; < Latin lēct ( us ), past participle of legere to gather, select, read + -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of lectin¹

C20: from Latin lectus, past participle of legere to select + -in

Example Sentences

WGA is classified as a lectin—a term for a protein produced by an organism to protect itself from predation.

From The Daily Beast

Thar hain't been such a run in Kanoy County sence they stopped 'lectin' country fellers fer sheriff.

From Project Gutenberg

I left it up to de white folks to 'tend to de 'lectin' of officers.

From Project Gutenberg